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Health & Beauty
Anew exhibition has just gone heroic roles played by ordinary people on display at Dorset County in extraordinary times. Hospital. Unfortunately members of the
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‘Unmasked’ is a project by photographer public are not available to visit the Andy Scaysbrook and journalist Emma hospital to view the exhibition due to Pittard, to reveal and celebrate the faces of coronavirus restrictions. However the health workers fighting the battle against work will be available online and via COVID-19 in Dorset. the hospitals Arts in Hospital Twitter
The project was inspired by the fact that account. A book containing more to fight this invisible enemy, our healthcare photographs and the full stories of heroes have made themselves invisible, all the participants is in production too, in a way. We clapped for them every which will raise funds for Dorset NHS Thursday but we didn’t see their faces. In Anna Morris, a Consultant Haematologist at Dorset County Hospital standing next to her photo in the Unmasked Exhibition (her Charities and serve as a permanent hospital, their identities have been hidden photo is on the left). record of these times. behind masks, gowns and gloves. Suzy Rushbrook, Arts in Hospital
Through a series of portraits photographed by Andy and Advisor at Dorset County Hospital said: ‘Arts in Hospital is supported by Emma and graphic designer John Nesbitt, proud to have worked with Andy, Emma and John on this the project shines a light on the ‘humans’ behind the masks, project and we were delighted when they contacted us in the capturing them in their lives both inside and outside the middle of lockdown. hospital. Art has an enormous impact on health and wellbeing and
Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was keen this is something people are becoming increasingly aware of - to support this artistic project that will serve as a historical making collaborative projects like this invaluable. document of the pandemic in Dorset. ‘The hope is that this project will serve as an exercise in
The exhibition is a sample of the work the team achieved wellbeing and a morale booster for staff working all over the during the first national lockdown, abiding to social distancing Dorset health sector; to show that their stories are being told and government guidelines. From simply talking to friends and that people are listening, that they are truly appreciated who are key workers, to being featured in The Times and The and that this extraordinary time is being recorded.’ Sunday Times, this project keeps on gaining! Visit www.Facebook.com/unmasked-104460184760269/ to
As well as raising funds for local NHS charities, the project find out more about the project and where it is heading next. will hopefully serve as an exercise in wellbeing and a morale Follow @ArtsinHospital to view the exhibition. booster for all healthcare staff, a first-hand record of the
Age UK sets up online chats to keep people connected
WITH winter on the way and a second national lockdown in effect, loneliness is a growing problem for older people. So to keep local older people connected, Age UK North, South & West Dorset (NSWD) has launched a new online ‘café’.
The new virtual café will be held via Zoom twice a week, every Wednesday and Friday at 11am, and will last approximately one hour.
Age UK NSWD is currently working to ensure that the coffee mornings are always lively, with varied activities and topics of conversation. The events will be hosted by a member of the local Age UK team.
It’s free to join the virtual café, and participants can also make a voluntary donation via PayPal, Just Giving or by cheque. This will help the organisation to continue their vital work in the local community during COVID lockdown tiers.
Shockingly, over 1 million older people in the UK are chronically lonely. National research shows that loneliness is particularly acute in areas of West Dorset, and very high in areas of North Dorset and Purbeck.
Operations Manager, Sarah Frigot said: ‘We are determined to tackle the scourge of loneliness during lockdown. There are isolated older people everywhere, who, perhaps because of bereavement or family living far away, are utterly alone.
Sarah says that the online café is a chance for older residents to brighten their day with a natter and a cuppa.
‘Think about who you have spoken to today’ she says ‘Maybe you had a chat with your partner over breakfast, or said hello to a neighbour. Perhaps you phoned a friend. Think of all the people you have spoken to today, even during lockdown, or over the past week or the past month. Then think about how silent life would be if you removed all of those conversations. That’s what life is like for more than a million older people who are chronically lonely and who don’t have someone to share daily life with.’
To join the coffee morning please call 01305 269444 or email wellbeingservice@ageuknswd.org.uk—they will then provide log on details. Help can also be available to assist with getting online and accessing Zoom.
